San Jacinto program steers students to success

By Monica Rhor |
November 3, 2012

The 28-year-old father of two enrolled at San Jacinto College after several years in the workforce. He had been out of school for a while, was placed in a developmental reading class, and had only a general idea of his ultimate goal.

"My plan was to get an education, to try to improve so I could get a better job than the one I had," said Powell.

He could easily have spent several years floundering, floating in out and of school or dropping out permanently. Fewer than one-fourth of community college students in remedial classes earn a degree or certificate within eight years.

Powell, however, is bucking that trend. A year after enrolling at San Jacinto, Powell is set to graduate next month with an occupational certificate in auto collision repair.

He credits his success to San Jacinto's "Intentional Connections," a new program that pairs students in developmental reading classes with faculty mentors who help them map out a clear route to graduation. The program allows students to choose the right career path by trying out different programs.

For example, a student interested in a health career could sit in on some nursing classes to get a feel for the program requirements and the realities of the job, said Rebecca Goosen, San Jacinto's associate vice chancellor of college preparatory. If the student decides to pursue a nursing career, a faculty mentor from that program, known as a case manager, would help the student develop an educational plan that includes determining what classes to take and what academic skills are needed.

In addition, assignments in the developmental classes, which help build math, reading and writing skills in students who are not college ready, can be tailored for a specific career field.

"We help them understand where they want to go and develop a path out of developmental education," said Goosen. "It's an issue of valuing the individual, giving them hope and direction."

Clear goals plus support

By steering students toward a clear vocational goal and a technical certificate and providing support through a faculty mentor, San Jacinto officials hope to encourage more students to continue to an academic degree.Many developmental education students have returned to college after an absence from school, are juggling full-time jobs, or take care of children or elderly parents - all factors that can lead to leaving school before earning a degree or certificate, said Goosen.

"They need to make a human connection with someone. They need a face, not just something online," said Goosen. "Some people might say it's hand-holding, and it is to a certain degree, but they are deserving students."

Pathway to success

The San Jacinto program, which includes about 50 students on the school's north campus and eventually will expand to about 150 on all three campuses, reflects a nationwide focus on improving developmental education.

"It's important that students have a vision, that they don't wander around too much, and take classes that will earn a credential," said Joshua Wyner, executive director of the Aspen Institute College Excellence Program. "For these students, it's critical that they see in concrete ways that the classes will be a pathway to a better life."

For Powell, who hopes eventually to open his own auto body shop, the San Jacinto program has done just that.

"This is the first time I was happy to go to school," he said. "They helped me stick with it and I knew that by getting an education, I could get a better job."